Method for producing energy and an apparatus producing energy

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing energy, in such a way that the apparatus is based on weights ( 4 ) and floats ( 3 ), and in which the weights/floats are situated, for example, on arms set to rotate on bearings around a pivot point ( 1 ), so that at least one weight ( 4 ) can be moved in an essentially radial direction. The arm ( 2 ), to which the weight ( 4 ) is attached and locked in a position moved towards the axle ( 1 ), is moved from a position deviating from a vertical position, locked there, and the weight ( 4 ) is released, so that it carries out work, such as pumping the liquid. The arm ( 2 ) being released to return to its initial position, so that the means ( 5, 6 ) connected to the weight, returns the weight ( 4 ) by resting against a counter-surface ( 7 ) with a diminishing radius.

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing energyand an apparatus producing energy.

[0002] Over the years, various solutions for producing energy have beendeveloped, embodied in the most diverse constructions. Many of these arebased on the buoyancy prevailing in water and on various movements ofweights incorporated in them.

[0003] The general principle of the apparatus according to the presentinvention is according to the above embodiments. Thus, in general, theinvention is based on weights.

[0004] In the following, certain characteristics of the invention aredepicted in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings,which show certain basic principles of the invention,

[0005] Thus;

[0006]FIG. 1 shows one embodiment, which shows, in the same figure, twopositions of the arm connected to one apparatus according to theinvention;

[0007]FIG. 2 shows an otherwise identical arrangement, except that thearm shown at the right-hand side has now carried out pumping work withthe aid of its weight;

[0008]FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention, in which thepump effect is created by means of a pump connected to the arm itselfand its weight;

[0009]FIGS. 4 and 5 show how the weight essentially related to theinvention is guided to be always set at an advantageous angle inrelation to the counter-surface;

[0010]FIG. 6 shows, in turn, one solution for moving the weightlaterally;

[0011]FIG. 7 shows the case of FIG. 6 in the form of a simplifieddiagram;

[0012]FIG. 8 shows an additional adaptation of the apparatus accordingto the invention; and

[0013]FIG. 9 shows yet another embodiment of the apparatus.

[0014] In the following, the method is described by describing theapparatus, in which case the method too will become apparent. Thus, itis an essential feature of the apparatus according to the invention,that the arm 2 attached, or a combination of several arms, attached tothe axle 1 by bearings, is made to move backwards and forwards in such away that the arrangement of weights connected to the arm 2 performswork, such as pumping a liquid. The arrangement operates especially inwater, the surface of which is shown by the wavy line in FIG. 1. Theentire apparatus can, however, be completely submerged in water.

[0015] The apparatus includes a float 3 attached to a suitable point onarm 2, the float having a weight 4 inside it, which is attached to thearm 2 in such a way that it can move essentially parallel to the arm 2,and/or with the aid of guide arms 5 or similar supported on the float 3.At the end of the same arm, a wheel 6 is also attached, which actsagainst a counter-surface 7 and causes, as it moves against thecounter-surface, the weight 4 to rise towards the axle 1. There may beone or several weights, just as there may also be one or several floats,for example, so that there are several floats to each weight, or severalweights to each float.

[0016] In the position of the arm 2 at the right-hand side of FIG. 1,the arm 2 has been turned to the slanting position shown, in such a waythat the weight 4 has been locked to its upper position. Once the armhas come to the position shown, it is locked in place and the rod 8 of apiston 10 of a pump 9, 10, which is outside the counter-surface, ispressed downwards by the released weight 4, so that the piston 10 pumpshigh-pressure liquid into the pipeline 11, where it is used to carry outwork of any kind whatever.

[0017] Once the weight and piston have reached their lower position, asshown diagrammatically in FIG. 2, the connection between them isdisconnected and the arm 2 is released from the locking, after which theweight 4 causes the arm 2 to begin moving ‘downhill’, because the torqueof the weight is greater that the buoyancy caused by the float, whilethe wheel 6 that moves against the tightening counter-surface 7 guidesthe weight 4 to its upper position. When the arm returns from theposition shown on the left-hand side of FIG. 1 to the position shown onthe right-hand side, the buoyancy caused by the float is exploited tothe full.

[0018] If desired, the counter-surface can be made adjustable, so thatthe optimal conditions for the highest possible efficiency are achievedunder all circumstances. Similarly, the counter-surface and also theoperating point and the length and other characteristics of the arm 2 ofthe apparatus can also continue to another position to that shown in thefigure. Thus, the operation can take place from the six o'clock positionin one or both directions, i.e. towards the nine o'clock position and/ortowards the three o'clock position. The counter-surfaces can also bediscontinuous.

[0019]FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the apparatus according to theinvention, in which an overhead counter-surface 7 is used. In thisembodiment, the weight 4 itself acts as a piston, by movingtightly-sealed in a suitably dimensioned cylinder. Once the arm hasturned to the position at the right-hand side of FIG. 3, with the weight4 locked into the upper position, the channel 11 is connected in asuitable manner tightly to the end of the cylinder, after which weight 4is released to carry out the pumping movement and to pump liquid intothe channel 11.

[0020] If necessary, both overhead and underneath counter-surfaces canbe used, for example, to carry out different operations in theapparatus.

[0021]FIGS. 4 and 5 show arrangements intended to always keep the movingweight 4 at a suitable angle in relation to the counter-surface, forexample, in a vertical position. FIG. 4 shows a construction of thefloat 3 equipped with an internal weight 4 while FIG. 5 in turn showsthe float with an external weight arrangement. Operating device 12 isattached to the construction between two pivot points 12′, 12″ at itsends, A third pivot point 13 acts as a pivot for changing the angle oftilt, under the control of the operating device 12. In other respects,the illustration should be self-explanatory. It is obvious, thatadjustment by means of the operating device 12 can take place once orseveral times during an operating cycle, or can be continuouslyadjustable, if so desired. The operating device 12 is of a typeconventionally used in control operations in other fields.

[0022] The embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 has the additionalcharacteristic that the weight 4 can be moved laterally. Thus, themovement can take place with the aid of suitable operating devices 12,which can be of the type described above. The operating devices 12 arepivoted suitably both to the components attached to the arm 2 and to thecomponents supporting the weight 4, so that by operating the operatingdevices 12, the weight is made to move, in FIG. 6, from left to rightand from right to left. As will be known, though the horizontal movementof a weight consumes very little energy it will substantially alter thelength of the lever arm in the entire system.

[0023]FIG. 7 shows a top view of the case of FIG. 6. A weight 4 that canmove along the guides 14 moves easily on the rollers 15 supported on theguides 14.

[0024] In the embodiment shown above in FIGS. 6 and 7, the movement ofthe weight and the tilting of the weight arrangement must be carried outsimultaneously, because the operation to different extents of theoperating devices 12 will naturally also cause tilting. In fact, iftilting and movement of the weight can be performed simultaneously, asingle operating device will suffice, allowing a fixed pivot to be usedin place of the second operating device.

[0025] It can be seen from FIG. 7, that, if necessary, the guides 14 canbe made quite long, as there are no limits to the length of themovement, if suitable operating devices are used. It is obvious that theguides can also be shaped differently to the essentially straight guidesshown in FIG. 7. The guides 14 can also be made adjustable, if such analternative will give a better result.

[0026]FIG. 8 shows yet another embodiment of the invention, from whicheverything unnecessary has been removed, i.e. the figure is an extremelysimplified depiction of the functioning of the apparatus. The referencenumbers signify the same as described in connection with the otherfigures. Thus, the apparatus is intended to operate in water with abackwards and forwards motion and with the axle 1 acting as a pivotpoint. One or several arms 2 are attached to the axle 1. A float 3,which has a certain buoyancy effect when under water, is attached to thearm 2. Arm 2 also includes a weight 4, which moves inside a sleeve 16 orsimilar.

[0027] The general principle of the invention is the same as above; themovement of the weight lengthens/shortens the lever arm attached to theaxle 1, which also results in a change in the mutual positions of thefloat 3 and the weight 4, due to which, under certain conditions, thebuoyancy of the float 3 in the water is able to raise the weight in ahorizontal direction, while under other conditions the mass of theweight 4 is sufficient to press the float 3 downwards.

[0028] The entire operation can be outlined as follows. In the initialsituation, the arm 2 is in a nearly vertical position, as shown in theright-hand part of the figure. Even in this connection, it should benoted that the positions of the arm 2, the float 3, and the weight 4 canbe different in practice, and are not restricted to the situation shownin the diagram. The arm 2 with its float 3 and its weight 4 has comefrom the left-hand side position to this position in such a way that thecounter-surface 7 has caused the weight 4 to be lifted to the upperposition, in which the weight 4 is locked. This position is indicatedwith the reference number I.

[0029] By means of a suitable mechanism, which is not shown in thisfigure, but which can be one of the types described in connection withthe other figures above, the weight 4 is moved horizontally to theposition II and the weight 4 with its tube 16 is tilted in the directionshown.

[0030] In the situation described above, the mutual positions of thefloat and weight at the end of the lever arm 2 are such that the floatbegins to raise the entire system in the water towards position III, towhich the arm then comes. After this, a suitable mechanism is used tomove the weight system horizontally to the position IV on the left-handside of the figure. In this position, the locking of the weight 4 isreleased, allowing the weight to drop downwards in the tube 16, as shownin position V. At this stage, the weight carries out exploitable work,for example, by operating a pump, as described above. Suitable tiltingand movements are carried out to move the weight to its optimal positionand allow the arm 2 with its weights to rotate towards the downhilldirection. When the weight reaches the downward position at the end ofthe arm, the counter-surface 7 simultaneously raises the weight to theupper position in the tube 16, when the initial position described aboveis once again ready.

[0031]FIG. 9 shows yet another embodiment of a solution according to theinvention. The numbering of the components corresponds to the numbersused in connection with the descriptions of the previous figures. Thesolution involves the location of two floats in two different positions,which are indicated in the figure with the numbers I and II. Thus, inthis embodiment, guides 14, along which the weight 4 can move, areattached to a float, or in this case to two floats 3. Because theapparatus operates in water, the lower position shown in FIG. 9 ensuresthat the buoyancy of the floats 3 in the water is sufficient to move thefloats to the upper position, which is shown on the left-hand side ofFIG. 9, on the arms 2 that rotate around the axles 1. At this stage,i.e. in the upper position of the apparatus, the weight 4 is moved alongan essentially horizontal transfer track from the outermost of thefloats, in which case the rotational force of the apparatus forces it tothe lower position. For the duration of the movement of the weight 4,the apparatus is locked in place in the upper position. Once theapparatus has reached its lower position, the weight is once again movedclose to the floats 3.

[0032] It is obvious that many different kinds of solutions known fromother fields of technology can be used to carry out the processdescribed above. Thus, guide-type means, or any means at all that permitmovement to be made, can be used to move and tilt the weight 4. Theoperating power for the movements and tilting can be taken from anysuitable energy source at all, the power being, for example, electrical,pneumatic, or hydraulic power.

[0033] The arm can move or be moved over a more or a less extensive arcthan that described above. The movement and tilting of the weight canalso be carried out at such a time and to such an extent, as well as insuch a direction, as will allow the best result to be achieved at anytime. Many different ways can be used for tilting, such as the use ofthe counter-surface described above. The locking and release of theweight are carried out in whatever sequence is appropriate at each timeand therefore the sequences of movement, tilting, and locking/releasingcan differ from those described above. In addition, the movement of thefloats can be in different directions to, or as mirror-images of eachother and can also be varied in other ways. In the case of FIG. 9, thefloat-weight system can also be moved in such a way that the floats aremoved physically to a parallel position, while nevertheless taking carethat the path of the weight remains in the desired position. Manydifferent means, for example, some kind of rectangular trapezoid, can beused for this purpose.

[0034] The simplified diagram examined above does not contain any kindof operating devices, movement or tilting devices, or other necessarymeans. All of the means can be located in suitable places, so that someof them may be external to the apparatus and some of them internalmeans. It is also obvious that an apparatus of this type intended toproduce energy will nowadays essentially include a computer, by means ofwhich the entire process is controlled and optimized.

[0035] A pump is depicted above as being the means for recoveringenergy, but the means can of course be of another kind. One means couldbe, for example, such in which the weight is connected to a rack, whichis brought into suitable contact with a pinion when it is intended torelease the weight from its upper position. The rack then rotates thepinion as the weight descends, making it easy to recover the energy fromthe rotating motion. It is obvious that other variations also exist forthis purpose.

[0036] Other adaptations of the invention are also possible whileremaining within the scope of the inventive idea and the accompanyingClaims.

[0037] It is obvious that the apparatus according to the invention canbe adapted in many ways while nevertheless remaining with the scope ofthe inventive idea and the accompanying Claims. The desired number ofarms can be used, their number being in no way limited. Several floatsand weights can also be used, if such an alternative seems necessary.The weights and floats can be either together or also separate from eachother, and need not be as shown in the figures. Similarly, it ispossible to use fixed or adjustable auxiliary weights or auxiliaryfloats. It should be further noted that the operation of the apparatusaccording to the invention is based on very larges masses, so that evena small relative difference between the produced/required amount ofenergy will produce a large amount of working power.

[0038] According to the invention, if desired, arm 2 can have atelescopic construction. Similarly, a telescopic construction can alsobe utilized in the arm 5. This is particularly the case in situations inwhich it is possible to change the direction of the arm 5 and also ofthe entire arrangement of weights. By withdrawing the arm 5telescopically into itself, savings are achieved in terms of its pathsof motion and other characteristics. A similar effect with a telescopicconstruction can be achieved by making the axle 1 movable, so that itsposition can be altered if necessary.

[0039] Reference has been made above to an arrangement of arms attachedby bearings to the axle. This is not, however, the only alternative, asthe motion can also be controlled, in a known manner, by other means.Thus, for example, it is possible to arrange guides, along which thearrangement of weights and floats can be moved forwards and backwards,or in a desired manner. Suitable auxiliary devices can be arranged tocreate or assist the motion, so that, for example, the componentsreferred to can be made to move along guides with the aid ofmotor-driven rollers.

[0040] Naturally, cables or other known means can also be used toprovide motion. The guides and similar can extend from near the floatsin one direction or, if necessary, in both directions.

[0041] According to the invention, shape is not significant, for whichany shapes of the weights and/or floats as have been found to bepracticable can be used. To achieve the best manner of operationpossible for each construction, the weight can be made lighter, equalto, or heavier than the buoyancy caused by the float. The choice willalways depend on the individual case. According to the invention,auxiliary energy can, if necessary, be used to create movement, forexample, between the two extreme positions shown in FIG. 1. Thedirection in which such auxiliary energy may be required dependsessentially on the relationship between the weight and the buoyancy ofthe float. Solutions known from many other contexts can be used toproduce the auxiliary energy.

[0042] Though only two embodiments are examined above, it is obviousthat the extreme positions of the arm can of course differ from thoseshown in the figures, which are only intended to provide alternatives,and not to limit the invention to them.

1. A method for producing energy by means of an apparatus operating inwater, which is based on weights (4) and floats (3), which are situatedat, or near to the outer ends of arms set to rotate on bearings around apivot point (1), and in which the weights/floats are set to move in sucha way that at least one weight (4) can be moved, characterized in thatthe arm (2) and the arrangement of the float (3) and the weight (4) aremoved from one position to the other principally with the aid of thebuoyancy effect of the float (3), in which arrangement the weight (4) ismoved to a position extending the lever arm, or the weight is allowed todescend from the said position to a lower level carrying out work and isreturned to the initial situation by moving the weight back to itsinitial position.
 2. A method according to claim 1, characterized inthat the weight (4) is returned to its initial position with the aid ofmeans (5, 6) connected to the weight, by resting against acounter-surface (7) with a diminishing radius.
 3. A method according toclaim 1, characterized in that the weight (4) is connected to the pistonrod (8) of a piston pump (9, 10) in a second position differing from theinitial vertical position of the arm (2), pumping being achieved by thepressure of the released weight (4) on the piston rod (8).
 4. A methodaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the movement of the weight(4) takes place along a rail arrangement (14) or similar.
 5. Anapparatus operating under water for producing energy, based on weights(4) and floats (3), which are situated at, or near to the outer ends ofarms set to rotate on bearings around a pivot point (1), in such a waythat at least one weight (4) is movable, characterized in that in theapparatus there are means (8, 9, 10) for recovering energy from thevertical movement of the weight (4) and/or means (e.g. 14) for movingthe weight (4) more or less horizontally and thus for altering thetorque acting on the arm (2).
 6. An apparatus according to claim 5,characterized in that the means (8, 9, 10) comprises a pumpconstruction, a combination of a rack and a pinion, or a correspondingdevice.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that thepump construction is an integral part of the weight and floatarrangement.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in thatthe float (3) forms the cylinder of the pump and the weight (4) formsthe piston of it.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 5, characterized inthat the pump is connected to an external channel (11) for leadingliquid to it for pumping.
 10. An apparatus according to any of the aboveclaims 5-9, characterized in that it includes means (12, 12′, 13) forholding the path of the weight (4) in the desired position.
 11. Anapparatus according to any of the above claims 5-10, characterized inthat it also includes means (14, 15) for moving the weight (4) in adirection more or less deviating from the vertical direction.
 12. Anapparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that it also includesmeans (14, 15) for moving the weight (4) in an essentially horizontaldirection.
 13. An apparatus according to any of claims 5-12,characterized in that the weight (4) is situated in a sleeve-like member(16), inside which the weight can move.
 14. An apparatus according toclaim 13, characterized in that the means for moving and tilting theweight (4) are means for moving and tilting the sleeve-like member (16).15. An apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that it includesrail-like components (14) for moving the weight (4) laterally.